Case for Change
Acute hospitals are the frontline of a mental health crisis in the NHS.
Every year, more than one million people attend hospital due to their mental health (NHS England, 2024; Health Services Safety Investigations Body, 2021).
Patients consistently report challenges when accessing hospitals due to their mental health, including feeling dismissed, stigmatised, and disrespected by healthcare professionals during these critical moments (Care Quality Commission, 2015)
A unique challenge
Studies reveal that those experiencing mental health crises have reported a “horrendous” experience when seeking help at hospitals, leading to reluctance to disclose their condition and seek help in the future (Qualitative Health Research, 2019). These negative experiences create significant missed opportunities for engagement and possible suicide prevention (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2016).
The overwhelming majority (90%) of hospital staff want more mental health training (We Can Talk / CORC, 2019), pointing to a gap in practical, high-quality, hospital-specific mental health training.
Hope for change
We Can Talk wants to create the opportunity to reframe patient experience of hospital by ensuring that one in five members of the acute workforce has the confidence to have a conversation with them about their mental health – transforming the experience for staff and patients. Learn more about our Impact.
